Shank-stiffener.



E. E. WINKLEY.

SHANK STIPFBNER.

APPLICATION FILED umm, 1912.

1,030,628, Patented June 25, 1912.

www Wm SHANK-STIFFENER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERAsTUs E. VVINKLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shank-Stiffeners;and T do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' This invention relates to the manufacture of boots and shoes.

As is Well known to those skilled in the art, the outseam of a shoeoften rips at the shank owing to the strain to which the ontseam issubjected as the shoe is fiexed back and forth during its wear. Thisstrain is caused by the slipping of the outsole over the insole duringthe flexing of the shoe.

The object of the present invention is to prevent t-he ripping of theoutseam of the shoe at the shank. To the accomplishment of this object afeature of the present invention contemplates the provision of afastening consisting of a body portion arranged to be interposed betweenthe inner and outer soles at the shank of a shoe and provided withoppositely disposed prongs for entering the inner and outer solesrespectively. Such a fastening firmly unites the inner and outer solesat the shank of the shoe and thus relieves the outseam of the rippingstrain.

In its bro-ader aspects the invention contemplates the insertion of thefastening into the shoe in any suitable manner, but on account of theeconomic manner in which the insertion may be carried out, the fasteningis preferably loosely interposed between the inner and outer solespreliminary to the sole laying operation so that the oppositely disposed prongs may be caused to enter the inner and outer soles under thepressure of the sole laying form.

Broadly considered the inner and outer soles may be secured together atthe shank of the shoe with a series of independent fastenings, each ofwhich consists of a body portion provided with oppositely disposedprongs thereon.

Tn the preferred form of the invention the body portion of the fasteningis constructed as a shank stiffener which carries the prongs for unitingthe inner and outer soles together at the shank. This mannerSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 24, 1912.

Patented J une 25, 1912.

Serial No. 673,030.

of forming the fastening is an importantfeature of the presentinvention.

The invention contemplates providing the shank stiffener with the prongsin any suitable manner found desirable or expedient, blut in order toposit-ion the prongs eectively' the prongs are arranged in couples alongthe length of t-he stiffener, the prongs of each couple being reverselyarranged relatively one to the other.

The invention also contemplates shaping the prongs in any suitablemanner, but in order that the prongs may clench within the inner andouter soles, they are preferably bifurcated so that they are caused toenter the soles and distend therein under the pressure o-f the solelaying operation.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the fastening in the best formnow known to the inventor, Figure l is a side elevation, partly insection, of the fastening formed as a shank stiffener before itsincorporation in a shoe; and F ig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalelevation of a shoe showing the shank stiener incorporated therein andthe inner and outer soles firmly united together at the shank.

Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings,the fasten ing comprises a body portion consisting of a flat metal strip1 provided with a series of holes 2 arranged in couples along thelengt-h of the strip. The metal strip is bent longitudinally to adapt itfor use as a shank stiffener. Each of the holes 2 is fitted with acopper rivet 3, the cylindrical shank of which is slotted to form abifurcated prong 4. As shown in the drawings, the bifurcated prongs arearranged in couples along the length of the strip, the prongs of eachcouple being reversely arranged relatively one to the other.

When the lasted and sewed shoe is ready to receive the outsole, theshank` stiffener provided with the oppositely disposed prongs 4, isloosely placed in position on the inner sole at the shank of the shoewith the prongs on one side of the stiener resting upon the insole. Thecemented outsole is placed upon the inverted shoe with the shank of theoutsole resting on the vertical prongs. The shoe is then subjected topressure in the usual manner to laythe sole. During this operation thebifurcated prongs enter the inner and outer soles and distend under thesole laying pressure and finally become clenched Within the soles. Theinner and outer soles are thus lirrnly fastened together/through theshank stiffener. By securing the inner and outer soles together at theshank, the seam uniting the outer sole and welt is relieved of thestrain Which Would otherwise come upon it When the shoe is flexed duringthe Wearing of the shoe.

The nature and scope of the present invention having been indicated andone form having been specifically described, what is claimed as new isl. A fastening for shoes for preventing the ripping of the outseamconsisting of a body portion adapted to beinterposed between the innerand outer soles at the shank of the shoe and provided with oppositelydisposed prongs for entering the inner and outer soles respectively,substantially as described.

2. A fastening for shoes for preventing the ripping of the outseamconsisting of a body portion adapted to be loosely interposed betweenthe inner and outer soles preliminary to the sole laying operation andprovided with oppositely disposed prongs for entering and clenchingWithin of the outseaIn, substantially as described.

4. A shank stiffener for shoes consisting of a inetal strip providedWith prongs constructed and arranged to enter and clench Within theinner and outer soles, substantially as described.

5. As an article of manufacture, a shank stiffener consisting of a metalstrip provided With a plurality of bifurcated distensible prongs,substantially as described. 6. As an article of manufacture, a shankstiffener consisting of a metal strip pro-V vided With a seriesof prongsarranged in couples along the length of the strip, the prongs of eachcouple being reversely ar ranged relatively one to the other,substantially as described.

ERASTUS E. WINKLEY. Witnesses WARREN Gr. OGDEN, GEORGE E. STEBBINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

